Dual seal closure



De 5, 1950 v c. P. KRUPP 2,532,724

DUAL SEAL CLOSURE Filed Dec. ll, 1947 Y Patented Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED i STAT-ES PATENT DUAl'zl SEAL CLOSURE .,.Carroll Kruppifarberton, Ohio,v assignonfto TheB. klEL Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., acorpor'ation'ofNevxi York 'ApplicationfDecember'll, 1947;-S-erial' No. '791;076

,11C1aims. 1 The invention relates j to :closures f lfor :sealing adjacent :margins and .especially towdualeseal closures, utilizing slide fasteners.

' It; isianobject iof thepresent invention .to provide. :an f :improved :closure structure' 'havingrf in-f creased reliability of the seal under `allconditions of iexure encountered in use voftheclosureaand utilizingpto a: maximum the advantages ofthe lipesealing principle 1 y'Other objects ofA Lathe: invention fareoto. provide fior a .double lipsealing action :at fone face of `the closure;f.to provide :for n'iantaining` the :sealii despite bending; Ltwisting and :Elexure fof 'the marginsytoprovide closure means including .rlexible sealing. elements. s=in herently maintained'in'.overla;pping,= intercalated relation-'one to another in theclosedcondition of-t'he Iolosure and`- tocpfrovide :for l simplicity. 1' of construction Vand effectiveness lof. operation.

Furtheriobjects of the invention-are.toprovide for -mounting-sealing i members at the marginsin a manner-nto effect-sealing of .fthe latter at two spaced-apart positions f-latera-lly of f the 7closure while the vmembers undergo yintercalating Inovement vkrelative, 'to fone another; to pr-Ovide for` assuring thelpositioningof'the 4sealing"-rnernbersiinf intercalat'ed relation l one :to 4:another 3- =to provide for-guarding against v-accideI-ital-'breakage of-the seal fand"separationfofthe members I'and to yprovide for conveniently opening and closingthe closure.

T""Thesefand other objectswand advantages of the invention will be apparent from 'tha-following description.

l JIn v'the vdrawings'which-'formvapart 'of this specification f and Ain f like ynumerals areV employed to designate like parts -ft-hrou'ghout the same,

i-Fig -1- is aiplanview showing 'a sealing" closure attached to separable margins 0f amarti-rilettobe fastened; and 'constructed in accordance `with and embodying' the invention; lpartsbeingfbroken away.

Fig. 2 is aisectional View takenal'ong line v22--12 o'fFig. l,

Fig. 4 is Y ay sectionaliview l taken along line vv644 o-FigQl,

"Fig' 5-v is a-"cross-sectional viewiof `theclosure of Fig. 1 showing the closure in the opencoiidi tion-withr sealing members" in disengaged'and separated relation one to another; 'broken lines indicating the: ilexed positionj of the 'sealing'members forthefengaged andclosedrelation thereof, -Fig `6x isa perspective view 'fromabove of arunner `1for-- the closure,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation lof'the''runneigtmd A' Fig; 8' is ase'ctionalview ta-kenalong-line"88 'ffFig. 7.

the fillustrativeiform off the finventioni'shcivvn"l inthe drawings, the ,closure constru-ction includes joining means, preferably a slide fastener structure, `for; separablyf :uniting 'adj acontr -marg-ins I 5, IS of an Iarticle v.to be fastened, which slide yfastener structurexihasA :flexible gmargins orv stringers I'I-,1I 8 of wovenfiabric oraother suitable material. Thelstringerszmay have a substantially impervious-,coatingon impregnation I9; I9 offresi-lient rubberorfother rubber-like material at a face of the stringers. Beads-'20, 2| `of'cordfor othersuitable materialaextend along the-adjacent-marginal edges. of the stringers lI l, -I 8 at each face thereof, and are suitably Iattacl'led as by stitches 'engaging-'thecordsand-the stringers. Opposing series offcooperating fastener-elementsor teeth;22,'23 are securely 1anchored .attthe vmarginal beaded edgesiand'include engagingmortions 24,:-25 and mounting portions 261:21. The teethfrare'spacedapartslongitudina'lly fof f the stringers ,providing zones1128,';29 :between the engaging iportions of adjacent'teeth.

For closing and-.sealing the adjacentfmargins, a pairof `closingzandsealing membersuj', 3| of iiexible` strip :material such; forexample, Yas `resilientz rubber or other rubber-like.materiaLare mounted adjacent the'beadededges ofthe stringersat a faceiof the' closure. Although the mem borst-:30, 113|'. maysbefmounted on the stringers closelya adjacent the;v teeth, f the .members fare A,preferablymounted'di-rectly on the'mounting portions 26,121 'ofthe teeth 22; 23, asshown in the drawings,` to resst'objectionable displacement of the membersv with respect tothe teeth. l The members may beimolded upon the teeth and-adhered thereto by `a vulcanizedV bond, and extendxcontinuously along the stringers bridging the spacedapart teeth. The zones L23, 129-betweenthe engaging portions 24, 25 ofrtheteeth arefree offfthe rubber=materialof` themeinbers so that relative movement of theteethf-for opening Vandvclosing thelfastenerfstructure"will not Vbe objectionably restricted. Intheli-p-sealing relationship, Vas shown inthe drawings'especially Fig. 2, a-portion of i one side faceoi.4 the" element adjacent' the edge. 7'off the elementcontacts and seals vagainst the sealing surfaceand-v this action is facilitated by the? clearancel whereby a portion of the A other sideface extending awayy from said-*edge is out of contact with `adjoining'structure. and by the clearance preferably-between portionsof-the element andthe sealing surface rearwardly-of said edge.

fTheclosing-member 3i!` includes a pair of elements-Sor marginal` portions @32, "-f33- in foverlying,

outwardly aligned and spaced-apart relation one to`r another, eachprojecting towardvthe other margin-I1 for disposition in an overlapping, intercalated relation with a third elementslI-orprojecting marginal portion of the sealing 'member `that said othermargin T1, The portionsS 2,"33

and the portion 34 are each of resilient rubberlike material and project laterally of the stringers toward each other from base portions 35, 36 of the members 30, 3|, which base portions may be in continuation of the rubber coatings I9, I9 and are mounted directly on the teeth 22, 23 for bracing the members and for facilitating maintenance of the desired positioning of the members.

Each marginal portion 32, 33, 34 tapers gradually to a thin edge at 31, 38, 39 as shown especially in Fig. 5, for effecting sealing by lip-action. By lip-action is meant a sealing action effected by a exible sealing element, the edge of which may be termed a lip, which is in Contact with and preferably pressed against a sealing surface so as to seal effectively at low pressure differences approaching Zero and also at high pressure differences.

The pair of tapered marginal portions 32, 33 are constructed and arranged so that they provide an inclined open-faced slot 40 having generally parallel sides in the member 33, the slot 4D facing toward the sealing member 3| and being dimensioned suflicient to receive a substantial part of the tapered marginal portion 34 for the closed condition of the closure.

The inner marginal portion 32 nearest or adjacent the teeth 22, 22 presents an outwardly inclined sealing surface 4|v constituted by one of the sides of the narrow slot 4D and oppositely inclined relative to a sealing surface 42 of the marginal portion 34, that is the surfaces 4| and 42 diverge laterally away from one another and outwardly with respect to the adjacent faces of the teeth 22, 23. When the marginal portion 34 is inserted in the slot 40 under the engagement of the teeth, the edge at 31 slidingly contacts the sealing surface 4| in sealing relation therewith by lip-action of the edge and presses resiliently against the surface 4| under flexure of the mars ginal portion 34 substantially to the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 5.

Coincidentally with the positioning of the portion 34 in the slot 40, the edge at 38 of the outer marginal portion 33 slidingly contacts the sealing surface 42 of the portion 34 in sealing relation therewith by lip-action of the edge and presses resiliently against the surface 42 under flexure of the marginal portion 33 substantially to the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 5. The arrangement is such that the closing member 33 and the sealing member 3|, for the closed condition, effect a double lip-sealing action at positions spaced-apart laterally of the margins at one face of the closure and continuously along the margins. In the closed condition the respective tapered marginal portions of the members are in overlapping, intercalated relation one to another, as shown especially in Figs. 1 and 2, with their edges 31 and 38 each pressing resiliently in the same general direction toward the stringers by flexure of the edge against the sealing surface of the other member, thereby providing effective sealing by both elements under dominant fluid pressure at this face of the closure.

The members 39, 3| are constructed and arranged as shown in the drawings to provide hinging zones at 43, 44 at the junction of the marginal portions 33, 34 with the base portions 35, 36 for permitting resiliently restrained, swinging movement of the portions 33, 3-4 during engagement of the slide fastener structure, thereby promoting exure of the portions 33, 34 and lipaction sealing by the same at the respective sealing surfaces 4|, 42.

For avoiding accidental breakage of the seal,

especially at the edge at 38 in contact with the sealing surface 42, the closing member 30 has an upper rounded or shoulder portion 45 in continuation of the upper tapered marginal portion 33, which rounded portion 45 projects above the opposite sealing member 3| including the sealing surface 42. This arrangement supplements the guarding of the seal effected by the overlapping, intercalated relation of the members 33, 3|, and especially prevents breakage of the lip-seal between the marginal portion 33 and the sealing surface 42 by accidental separation of such portion and surface even under substantial twisting, flexure and bending of the stringers |1, I8.

The lower or inner marginal portion 32 of the closing member 30 and the marginal portion 34 of the sealing member 3| are spaced-apart from the adjacent faces of the teeth 22, 23 providing space therebetween for the passage of an upper plate 46 of a runner or slider 41 for engaging and disengaging the teeth by sliding movement along the stringers |1, I8.

The runner may be made of bronze or other suitable material of suitable strength and durability characteristics. The runner has the upper plate 46 and a lower flanged plate 48 interconnected by a center-post 49 of streamline shape in cross-section integral with the plates at the open.

ing end at 53 of the runner providing with the upper and lower plates suitable divergng channels for the passage of the teeth 22, 23.

The upper surface of the plate 46 has longitudinally extending side portions 52, 53 inclined downwardly toward the lower plate 41 and to.

ward the closing end at 5| and merging at such closing end for contacting and guiding the marginal portions 32 and 34 of the members 30, 3|. The side portions also merge with rounded end portions 54, 55 of the upper plate. The lower plate may have an apertured extension 56 for the attachment of a suitable pull-tab (not shown) for manipulating the runner. The construction facilitates intercalating the closing and sealing members and smoothness of sliding movement of the runner.

rIhe sealing closure described hereinabove is useful for closing an opening in a wall of an article such, for example, as a boot or other footwear, a tent, sleeping bag, inflatable suit for aviators, and other related articles. To this end, the closure may be mounted at a face of the wall of the article so that the closing and sealing members 30, 3| extend through the opening and are disposed at the other face of the wall, as shown especially in Fig. 1.

The stringers i1, |8 may be adhesively attached as by rubber-cement 55 of the air-curing type to the adjacent margins I5, I6 at the opening in the wall. The margins I5, I6 may extend to the members 33, 3| and a strip of tape 51 of suitable water-tight, iiexible fabric material may extend continuously along the outer edges of the stringere in overlapping relation to the same for assuring continuity of sealing. The tape may be` lapping relation therewith to assure sealing atthe closing end at 58.

The members 3U, 3| and the stringers I1, |8

at the opening end at 60 of the closure havev their end portions 30h, 3| b and |1a, |8a, respecessere@ tilygs'piedJa'lpartlfaterally'and'fretainedinftliiis dspositienfby@ an-'integlral 4top step z'striict'ure'452 'of'H-sh pelinlcrossf-ise'ct'ic'arandJ suitable mateialfas' shovvnlespe'e-ially in- Figs; Land i3, tof'ac- Commodateiland? hold the runner l'fl'l inwardly -of the endsiof ther'nem'be'rs "-30,5 3| theend portions 3019, bfof l thef members being slightly le'rilafr'ged andia'dheredltogetherSat-the top stop S2 in `overlapping, lintercalated 'relation to fonev "another, as shown especially in Fig. 3. A strip BY-Ifof 'suitabl'tape iis adhered in overlapping relation to thefend'fp'ortions '3017; 3 lb. I' This arrangement assures fsealing at theY opening end at 60 4of the `closure.

Forthe closed condition ofthe closure shown inFig. 1, the runner `is manipulated toward the el'os-ingfend at 53 to disengage the teeth 22, 23 andv spread-apart the stringers l1, I8, thereby separati-ng the vclosing and sealing members substantially-"to the position shown in Fig. and opening theclosure.

lMoving therunner toward the opening end-and initofcontactwith'the top `stop 62 at G0 engages theteeth and draws the stringers together progressively. The members 3i), '3l are coincidentally and progressively drawn together, the inclined side-portions 52, 53 of the upper plate 46 guiding t-hemembers-so that the marginalportion 344s interc'alated in the slot 46 between the spaced marginal portions 32, 33. The members 3B; 3lare` thus disposed inthe desired overlapping and contacting arrangement effecting the doublelip-seal at laterally spaced positions of the members 30,- 3| assuring maintenance of the vlipsealingfaction'ofpthe 'edgesin contact With the sealing surfaces despite twisting, ilexure and bending of the=margins of the closure. The hereinabove described construction providing the overlapping, Aintercalated relation of the members 30, l3l prevents effectively separation of the members andaccidental breakage of the seal under lexureconditions. Y

Variations may be "made Without departin from the-scope of the -invention as it-'is defined .in the following claims. l

f' Tela-im: Y

1.' A vs'ealing'elosure -for adjacent margins, 'said closure y`comprising separable fastenerelements at said margins for detachably uniting the same, a sealing member at one of 'said margins 'having -a marginal portion-of resilientrubber-like material projecting toward the other margin, said portion presenting a sealing'surface and tapering to an edge; andV a closing member at lsaid other marginhaving a pair of marginal portions of sa'idrubber-like material overlying one another in spaced-apart relation and projecting toward said sealing member `for closingsaid margins by an overlapping intercalated relation'of "all said portions, onemarginal portion of said pair having a sealing surface for contact by-lip-action with said edge of said sealing" member intheclosed condition,and'the other marginal portion tapering to an edge for contact by lip-action*'vvitli'saidseabing surfacegfof saidseali-ng member in said closed condition, the construction and arrangement being suchthat the edges of said members in said dlosediconditio'n' 'are each 'disposed to fiex resiliently against thesealing surface of theV other member Withthe' vdirectlyopposed faces of said members adjacent suchfedgef'in'spaced-apart relationtoone another.

2, 'se'aling closure for adjacent margins, said' clsre comprising a sealing'member of resilient material at one of said margins projecting toward the #other margin f andtapefing grad-uam to-` a thin -edge\=and -lfiavingA aV sealing Lsurface fon said sealing memberv extending :rearwardlyirom said-edgefand 'an additional-sealingmeinber of l resilient material-atsaid rotneiemarginleaving-a groove facing- `.toward-flsaicla"sealingmemberwith spaced-apartlfaccs of'ssaid. groove in overlapping relationlior receivingy therebetween said-'sealing member ein -theJ-'closedLcondition of the closure, one of `saidifaces of said additionalsealing-'member extending 'to anl edge andthe otherof said facesV thereof 'providing a 4'sealing surface, the edges of said sea-lingl members in said closed condition =each beingdisposed-to `press=r"esilieni;1y-in the same general direction :by fleXure-oi the edge against .the ksealing surface .of the other member withportions iof each of said faces of said groove inspaced-apart relation'to said sealingA member iirst mentioned, andseparable fastener means on said margins for separably Ajoining said margins With said sealing members disposed in sealingfrelation one to the other.

3, 'A sealing 'closure -for adjacent margins,l said closure comprising a' sealingy member yof resilient material at one of said-margins projecting-toward the other Imargin-and terminating'in an edge, and an additional sealing member at said other margin'having-portions of resilientpmaterial providing a slot facing toward said sealing member with opposing spaced-apartiacesoffsa-id slot Vin overlapping relation for receiving there-l between said sealing member in the --closedcon dition .of the closure, one of 'said spaced-apart facesvof said additional sealing `memberextend-` ing to an edge for sealing Contact with said-sealing member in said closed condition and lbeing in spaced-apart relation `to an overlapping :portion of said sealing member in saidrclosed condition, and separable fastener means on sa-idmargins for separably joining said margins with said sealing members disposed in sealing relation-one to the other.

f 4f A sealing clos-ure comprising a pair of margins, a strip sealing structure at onev 'of said margins having resilient elements ,providing spaced-apart overlapping faces defining a groove therebetween, and ay member at the other'margin of said pair'shaped for disposition in said groove and having an .edge forsealing vcontact with one of said faces while out of contact'viith the other of said .faces inthe 'closed condition of the closure, said other of said faces terminating in an edge for disposition in sealing relation with` a surf-aceV of said member in said closed condition, and slide fastener means for separably joiningsaidmargins with saidrstrip sealing structure and-said member `disposed in their sealing relation in said closed condition.

-5.A sealing closureccmprising a pair of margins, apair ofstrips at said margins eachfhaving-a resilientelementwhich projects laterally towardl the'other strip and each terminates in a sealing edge, asealing surface overlapping-and spaced-from .the projecting element of the nrst oi'isaid pair of strips, the resilient elementi'o the second stripoisaid pair in the closed condition of the closure having its sealing edge engageable'iwith 'said-'sealing surface'and having arface thereof er'igageablev/ith' the sealing edge of the rststripfwhileportions of :said sealing surface andfsaid"faceadjacent the 'sealing edges are spaced from adjoining structure, andv slide iastene-rm`eans"iorseparably joiningsai'd margins and fori-manipulating said 'pair Voffffstips 'into said. closed i condition.

6. In a sealing closure having a pair of stringere and cooperating teeth separably joining said stringers in the closed condition of the closure, in combination therewith, a strip including a rst resilient element at one of said stringere, a strip including a second resilient element at the other stringer, each resilient element projecting laterally toward the other strip and terminating in a sealing edge and said second resilient element presenting a face to the sealing edge of said first resilient element, a sealing surface overlapping and spaced from said rst resilient element, said sealing surface and said face of said second resilient element in the closed condition having an inclined disposition relative to one another and to said stringers, said second resilient element in said closed condition having its seal.- ing edge engageable with said sealing surface and its inclined face engageable with the sealing edge of said first resilient element while portions of said sealing surface and said inclined face adjacent the sealing edges are spaced from adjoining structure, and a slider engaging said teeth for manipulating said stringers into the closed condition with said strips in their sealing relation.

7. In a sealing closure having a pair of stringere and cooperating teeth separably joining said stringers in the closed condition of the closure, in combination therewith, a strip including a first resilientl element at one of said stringers, a strip including la second resilient element at the other stringer, each resilient element projecting laterally toward the other strip and terminating in a sealing edge and said second resilient element presenting a face to the sealing edge of said rst resilient element, a sealing surface overlapping and spaced from said first resilient element, said sealing surface and said face of said second resilient element in the closed condition diverging outwardly relative to one another and to said stringers, said second resilient element in said closed condition having its sealing edge engageable with said sealing surface and having said face thereof engageable with the sealing edge of said first resilient element while portions of said sealing surface and said face adjacent the sealing edges are spaced from adjoining structure, and a slider engaging said teeth for manipulating said stringers into the closed condition with said strips in their sealing relation.

8. A sealing slide fastener closure comprising a pair of stringers, a strip sealing structure at one of said stringers having resilient elements providing spaced-apart overlapping faces dening a groove therebetween, a member at the other Stringer of said pair shaped for disposition in said groove and having an edge for sealing contact with one of said faces while out of contact with the other of said faces in the closed condition of the closure, said other of said faces terminating in an edge for disposition in sealing relation with a surface of said member in said closed condition, and means including a slider and fastening elements for separably joining said stringere and manipulating said strip sealing structure and said member into their sealing relation in said closed condition.

9. A sealing slide fastener closure comprising a pair of stringere, a pair of strips at said stringers each having a resilient element projecting laterally toward the other strip and each terminating in a sealing edge, a sealing surface overlapping and spaced from the projecting element of the rst of said pair of strips, the resilient element of the second strip of said pair in the closed CTI condition of the closure having its sealing edge engageable with said sealing surface and having a face thereof engageable with the sealing edge of the rst strip while portions of said sealing surface and said face adjacent the sealing edges are spaced from adjoining structure, and means including a slider and fastening elements for separably joining said stringers and manipulating said strips into their sealing relation in said closed condition.

l0. A sealing closure comprising a pair of flexible stringers having slide fastener elements and a slider for separably joining the stringers, and a strip of resilient rubber-like material on each of the stringers, one of the strips having a first element of the resilient material tapering to an edge and a second element of the resilient material having a sealing surface spaced from and overlapping said first element providing therebetween a slot open toward the other strip, said other strip on the other Stringer having a third element ofthe resilient material tapering to an edge toward the rst strip, said third element in the closed condition of the closure being disposed in said slot with said edge thereof in sealing contact with said sealing surface of said second elenient and having a face thereof in sealing contact with said edge of said first element While being otherwise out of contact with said first element.

ll. A sealing closure comprising a pair of ilexible stringers having cooperating teeth and ak slider for separably joining the stringers, a strip of resilient rubber-like material mounted directly on the teeth of one of said stringers and having a protecting shoulder spaced from the Stringer, said strip including a first element of the resilient ma-` terial projecting laterally away from said shoulder in spaced-apart overlying relation to the Stringer and tapering to an edge, and said strip including a second element of the resilient material between said rst element and said Stringer having a sealing surface spaced from and overlapping said iirst element providing therebetween a slot open toward the other Stringer, and an additional strip of the resilient material mounted directly on the teeth of said other Stringer having a third element of the resilient material tapering to an edge toward the rst strip and having an overall height relative to said other Stringer less than that of said rst strip including said protecting shoulder, said third element in the closed condition of the closure being disposed in said slot with said edge of said third element in sealing contact with said sealing surface of said second element and with a face of said third element in sealing contact with said edge of said first element while being otherwise out of contact with said first element.

CARROLL P. KRUPP.

REFERENCES CITED rEhe following references are of record in thev le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 19, 1943 

